Mohammed Hamid was convicted in 2008 under politically-motivated circumstances. He was found guilty of “soliciting to murder” under legislation dating back to 1861, despite never actually instructing anyone to any specific act. The conviction was based upon innocuous statements allegedly made by Hamid whilst under covert surveillance which, by the accounts of those who appeared in court for the prosecution, were twisted to suit a government agenda.

As part of a documentary about Muslims in the United Kingdom, “Don't Panic, I'm Islamic”, the BBC filmed Hamid and others playing paintball. However, the Metropolitan Police and the Crown Prosecution Service felt that there must have been something sinister about Muslims paintballing and camping in the woods. Statements were given by the police, of which the strongest allegation was a testimony that “they were holding sticks exactly as I have seen people in Iraq.” That this was their strongest evidence, even after months of surveillance which included the use of undercover agents and covert recording, is a stark indication of the legitimacy of the prosecution.

It is our contention that it is no more of a crime for Muslims to go paintballing or camping than it is for the thousands of other people who go paintballing and camping every year. Yet, in these “war of terror” times, it has meant that Mohammed Hamid and others are now serving totally unjustifiable sentences for taking part in activities that are not in themselves crimes.

It is our fear that this sentence will be the first of many for Muslims in the United Kingdom – and by extension of the precedent Hamid's case has set, for non-Muslims too – indeed anyone who does not champion the British government's foreign policy or who have a different world view.

Hamid's prosecution amounts to nothing but internment in another guise and is an affront to general principles of law and justice. It was a calculated, cynical attempt to justify a year long undercover operation, which revealed nothing more than that Hamid perhaps had a sense of humour that may not be to the taste of middle England, and that he was openly critical of British foreign policy.

We call on the British government to release Mohammed Hamid and overturn this serious miscarriage of justice.